SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming-(XIII)-Child in Hospital

http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/GoCDuBY5ALQ/3.jpg Our daughter has been in hospital all this week very sick, with Sepsis (a major infection of the blood) compounded by influenza. The sepsis is responding very well to treatment, but it is serious because of her age and she is still a very sick little girl. She's had a spinal tap and been poked and prodded. However, things are stable, looking up from a couple of days ago, the doctors sound very optimistic now, and she is in very good hands here in the pediatrics ward. Here's GASSHO to all nurses, doctors and health care workers EVERYWHERE!

My wife takes the night shift to stay with her, and I take part of the day. We have little rest this week, we are both worried. Our son Leon is sick at home too. There is nothing about the situation to like, and so much potentially to lose. Our heads sometimes fill with worst case scenarios. (The expense mounts too, as we do not have any insurance yet for our daughter just come to Japan ... one more worry in this modern age). If this is but a dream, it seems like a very bad one. Yet, especially at such times, the Xin Xin Ming counsels this ...


Rest and unrest derive from illusion;
with enlightenment there is no liking and disliking.
All dualities come from ignorant inference.
They are like dreams of flowers in the air:
foolish to try to grasp them.
Gain and loss, right and wrong:
such thoughts must finally be abolished at once.


It sounds like something far removed from reality ... yet it is Reality, as True as True ... and precisely at hard times like this, the power of this Buddhist Way manifests! All is at Rest right in the heart of exhaustion, there is Peace shining through life's sharp pieces. There is nothing possible to lose, never the least separation, not even 'life and death' ... even as hearts are broken and there is so much to lose in this life!

All At Once As One.

I mean the following with all I have. It may sound a little cold and unemotional to some, but in its flesh is the worry and heartache of a father with a sick child, and at its center is the beating Heart of Kannon ...

Life is sometimes sickness and sometimes health. I know that human beings prefer only the healthy days ... but Buddhas have no such preferences.

The Buddha left us this, the Most Powerful Teaching ...

... That there is never any loss possible, no place distant for our loved one to go, something wondrous that transcends sickness and health, birth and death ... no broken pieces ever in need of repair from the start. The dualities arise from ignorance, and all is a dream-flower in the sky. Dropped away, and all is Whole in an Instant.


I know it hard to feel so, especially on the most difficult days ... but it is so.


One can be anxious and worried as a parent can and must be ... and wonderously, simultaneously, not disturbed at all, not fearful in the least. Strange, this Buddhist Wisdom, isn't it?

Today's sitting is silent, no more words need be spoken. Just sitting in the hospital room with our sick child. We sit here too, Zazen is sitting anywhere.

Thank you for all who have sent Metta and good feelings, and done much sitting this week. It is so good to have the company of kind friends at hard times. I am so glad to be part of this Sangha.

Today’s Sit-A-Long video follows at this link. Remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a sitting time of 15 to 35 minutes is recommended

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoCDuBY5ALQ[/youtube]

Gassho Jundo,
thank you for this teaching.
_()_
Myoku

get well litle girl :D
i'll be sitting for you,your brother,your mum & your dad
thX jundo

gassho
gilles

Completly with all of you.
With all my heart.


gassho


Taigu

_/_

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Ron

Beautiful and powerful words of instruction in these difficult times.

Thank you very much, Jundo.

Metta

My wife is a pediatric ICU nurse...I don't know how she does it but I'm glad she does, as is anyone she cares for.

Thoughts and prayers for your little peanut's speedy recovery.

I will be sitting with your family. Much metta.

Gassho,
Chris

Through tearful eyes, hope springs.

With all sincerity, thank you.

Much love to Sada and you all.

Gassho,

Dokan

PS - Posted to podcast...maybe one of the most powerful yet.

Jundo,

Thank you for this teaching...any other words fail me right now...my thoughts are with you all.

Gassho,
Dosho

Know that your students are with you, Jundo.

Thank you Jundo,
for your honest teaching.

When everything grinds to a halt and it feels as if reality thickens, there is the proving ground of practice. We're with you all the way.

Take care of yourself and your family,
Pontus

Best wishes to you and your family! Glad to hear that things are improving.

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Owndrum

_/_

Jundo, We are here for you in whatever various ways we can be. . . to rejoice and cry, even as we realize there is only One thing and all is included . . . striving to find the balance between wallowing in our feelings and being a "zen robot" (to quote a teacher I'm fond of). ;)

Much love to you,
Eika

Hope your little one had a peaceful night and that this is the dawning of a better day.

Gassho

Willow

Much metta to Sada and your whole family Jundo _/_ .

Jundo,

Words fail me...please know we are with you and your family. Much love, peace, and rest to all of you.

_/_

Kelly/Jinmei

Jundo,

This is one of the most powerful teachings ever.

All my love and heart go out to little Sada, all children suffering in the universe, your family and you.

We are one. We are here for yo.

Thank you for this teaching, Jundo. Much metta to you and your family.

-Andrew

Hi everyone,

Today, Thursday morning, her fever is down and all is looking better. Yeah!

But, we don't become attached, and run after to clutch, good news either (though so tempting). We just take that as "what is" too ... rainy days just rainy, sunny days just sunny, crying days just crying, smiling days just smiling! :)

That will be the subject of our next Xin Xin Ming talk.

Gassho, Jundo

That´s ok, we have to accept things-as-they-are....... but anyway, hopefully this day will be a sunny one :wink:

_/_
The most impactful sit-a-long I've seen!

Gassho,
Hoyu

Thank you Jundo for this teaching. One of the basic principles of my training is, "It's OK to cry!"
I am awed and humbled by your ability to put energy into a Dharma Talk such as this during the direst of times a parent can bear.
Bless You, Mina-san, Sa-chan and Le-kun;
from my family to yours

I had tears reading your words while I nodded in agreement. It is amazing to have these two perspectives at the same time: acceptance and heart-felt concern. Maybe it's just holding the "two truths" in the heart simultaneously.

My sincere best wishes to you all over there.
Gassho
Myozan

_/|_

Jundo

I am sitting with you, your daughter and your family and the rest of the sanga will be as well.


Metta to you, your family including the treeleaf family.

Gassho

Ray

Jundo,
In this difficult time for you and your family the Buddhist teachings flow through you to us. Deep appreciation and much Metta. Gassho Shogen

Hi Guys,

She is coming home today, so wonderful how fast kids heal. They said she can just stay with oral medication for the next week, so no need for the hospital.

Yeah! I have a little sit-a-long about "Coming Home" :

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4649&p=69265#p69265

Gassho, J

Jundo,

I was so sorry to hear about your daughter's illness earlier this week. I am glad that things are on the uptake and that she will soon be comfortable in her own home.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jundo

...Rest and unrest derive from illusion;
with enlightenment there is no liking and disliking.
All dualities come from ignorant inference.
They are like dreams of flowers in the air:
foolish to try to grasp them.
Gain and loss, right and wrong:
such thoughts must finally be abolished at once...

---

It is good for me to read this today. I have been sitting as often as I can, but with great and needless strain and confusion. I have been rising prematurely from zazen. Maybe sitting for little sick children who don't care about how perfect my technique is will keep me on the cushion. Maybe it will be the image of watchful parents up all night that will help.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jundo

...... That there is never any loss possible, no place distant for our loved one to go, something wondrous that transcends sickness and health, birth and death ... no broken pieces ever in need of repair from the start. The dualities arise from ignorance, and all is a dream-flower in the sky. Dropped away, and all is Whole in an Instant.
...

---

Beautiful. May my understanding of the words become mute and may the understanding itself remain.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jundo

I am so glad to be part of this Sangha.

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Moi aussi.

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Gassho,

Risho